Heating with Manure 



349 



in thickness. By this means the mass is easily made 

 uniform. 



Only by experience can one learn what is the proper 

 ''' body " or texture of good hotbed manure. That with 

 too much straw, and which therefore soon parts with its 

 heat, springs up quickly j^^hen the pressure of the "feet 

 is removed. Manure with too little straw, and which 

 therefore does not heat well or spends its heat quickly, 

 packs down into a soggy mass underneath the feet. When 



Sa's/f 



216. A manure-heated hotbed. 



the manure has sufficient litter, it gives a springy feeling 

 to the feet as a person walks over it, but does not fluff up 

 when the pressure is removed. 



The quantity of manure to be used depends (1) on 

 its quality; (2) the season in which the hotbed is made": 

 (3) the kind of plants; (4) the skill of the operator in 

 managing the bed. Careless watering, by means of which 

 the manure is kept soaked, will stop the heat in any hot- 

 bed. The earlier the bed is made, the larger should be 



